Episode Summary
Family tensions rise as He Jiali's financial situation and living arrangements become a source of conflict. Liu Meixin is manipulated by He Jiaxi, leading to a property transfer. Meanwhile, He Jiahuan ventures into stock trading, He Xiangdong gets involved in futures, and Tang Yangyang decides to drop out of school.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with He Jiali, out to dinner with Zhang Jianguo. She's distraught over being homeless and bursts into tears. Zhang Jianguo comforts her with sweet talk, eventually coaxing a smile out of her. Meanwhile, He Jiawen visits Liu Meixin but ignores He Jiaxi, stating she won't be home for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
After Liu Meixin leaves to sell her pickles, He Jiaxi stops He Jiawen, badmouthing He Jiali, claiming she always has an agenda. He Jiawen doesn't buy it, leaving and affirming her unwavering support for He Jiali. He Jiali also reveals to He Jiawen that Zhang Jianguo took out a 100,000 yuan loan to buy a second-hand house.
The third sibling, He Jiayi, secretly advises Liu Meixin to be cautious with everyone and to keep her retirement money secure. Later, Liu Xiaoling, He Jiahuan, and others arrive for the festival, but the atmosphere is strained due to He Jiali's absence. Liu Meixin insists she treats everyone equally, blaming He Jiali for the tension.
He Jiaxi then tells Liu Meixin that He Jiali bought a house, suggesting she's only generous to herself and stingy with her mother. She even inflates the 100,000 yuan to 200,000, implying that He Jiali and her husband are using their grandmother's savings. Because of this, Liu Meixin starts to doubt He Jiali, even pretending not to see her at the market.
A businessman from Guangdong, Gao Zhiyong, approaches Liu Meixin with a partnership proposal. He wants her secret pickle recipe in exchange for handling production and marketing. Liu Meixin emphasizes that it is a family secret and does not immediately agree to Gao Zhiyong, but is secretly considering the idea. He Jiaxi notices something is up and starts snooping around, making her own plans.
He Jiaxi then tells Liu Meixin that He Jiali's house was bought with a loan, suggesting she might try to "come back" and urging Liu Meixin to transfer the house to her name. To convince her, He Jiaxi recounts her own hardships and analyzes how none of the other sisters plan to care for their mother in her old age. Liu Meixin is swayed and goes with He Jiaxi to transfer the property.
Fang Tao's trucking business is relatively stable, but He Jiahuan, who is unemployed, wants to try stock trading, confident in her years of experience in the financial system. Fang Tao reluctantly agrees to let her invest, continuing to cook for her daily.
Liu Meixin visits her in-law, Wang Huaimin, who advises her to protect her pickle recipe and house, as many people have been cheated out of their secret recipes. After dinner, Liu Meixin walks home alone in the snow. He Jiali and her husband worry about her and decide to call, but He Jiali hangs up before Liu Meixin can answer, assuming she's spending the New Year with He Jiaxi and the others.
Meanwhile, He Xiangdong is dining with Li Wen when he runs into an old friend, Xiao Fentou. Impressed by his friend's suit and success, he decides to invest in futures trading with him. Initially, He Xiangdong makes a small profit, but encouraged by Xiao Fentou, he invests more and more. Because Yan Hongyu's relative wants to enlist in the army through connections, Yan has to ask He Jiaxi to seek help from He Xiangdong. He Xiangdong uses this opportunity to ask He Jiaxi for 20,000 yuan.
Tang Yangyang, lacking academic talent, wants to drop out of school and work, angering Zhang Qiufang and He Jiali. Liu Xiaoling picks up Tang Yangyang from school and supports his decision to go to Shanghai, encouraging him to explore the world. Hearing Liu Xiaoling's words, Tang Yangyang's attitude towards Liu Xiaoling changes, and the mother and son reconcile.
